Semi auto shotgun?

[SemiautoSal]

Is there a way to determine if a shotgun is functioning as a semi auto without actually shooting it? For example: can someone function test a Saiga 12 that has the gas piston removed and determine it is not functioning as a semi auto?

[kellyhachihachi]

id imagine you have to shoot it

[SemiautoSal]

I have come to that conclusion as well but I'm not an expert. I was hoping someone could explain it in detail

[swifty]

No.

[CrippledPidgeon]

Well if it's a saiga, I imagine it'd be pretty easy... pull the bolt back see if you can see the piston. At worst, do a quick field strip, and the piston will be sitting right there in front of you.

[wjc]

Look down the barrel.

If there is a hole in the middle it's a semi-auto. That's the port for the gases to escape into the gas system to action the bolt. If there is no system to action the bolt via gases you now are teh proud owner of a small boat anchor.

[SemiautoSal]

The gun can be fired. My question is simply can a person pick up the gun and do whatever they want without shooting it and know 100% it functions as a semi auto shotgun? I'm not trying to be a dick. There are legal issues here.

[JDPhx501]

The gun can be fired. My question is simply can a person pick up the gun and do whatever they want without shooting it and know 100% it functions as a semi auto shotgun? I'm not trying to be a dick. There are legal issues here.

I'm alittle confused by your issue. Are you trying to determine if a shotgun is semi auto or manual just by looking at it or if just by looking at a semi auto can you determine if its self loading ability has been removed?

Personally I wouldn't shoot any gun that has been altered to fundamentally affect its functioning beyond its original design or that has not been put back together with all of its working parts and fired.

i.e. I would never fire my Benelli with the gas pistons removed in an attempt to make it function as a manually cycled gun.

The range is also not the best place to find out how a gun works if you didn't know already. If you don't know how it functions, ask or get supervision from someone familiar with its operation.

[SemiautoSal]

Exactly.. Determine if semi auto or manual simply by function testing. It is my understanding that you wouldn't know if it fired as a semi auto for sure unless it was fired. Cop is saying its semi auto without shooting it but unbeknownst to him the gas piston was removed.

[ivanimal]

Call a gunsmith we are not in a position to give legal advice.